Presidential Search

 

 

Dr. William M. Downs named 羞羞视频鈥檚 sixth president

鈥淒r. Downs represents everything we hoped to find in 羞羞视频鈥檚 next president,鈥� said Gene Lewis III, chair of the Board of Trustees and presidential search committee. 鈥淲ith his extensive experience, deep personal faith, and infectious energy, he is uniquely qualified to elevate 羞羞视频 to new heights, while upholding our mission and values.鈥澨�听

Executive Search Firm

The 羞羞视频 Board of Trustees has engaged , a recognized leader in higher education searches, to serve as our partner and facilitate the search process. Our team from CarterBaldwin will be led by Bill Peterson and Gerri Williams.

As a first step, the firm will assist the search committee in the development of a position profile, which will define the qualities and characteristics the 羞羞视频 community is seeking in its next president.

Nominations, inquiries and applications may be sent to campbellpresident@carterbaldwin.com.

Additional inquiries should be directed to:

Mr. Bill Peterson, Partner
CarterBaldwin Executive Search
bpeterson@carterbaldwin.com

Dr. Gerri Williams, Associate Partner
CarterBaldwin Executive Search
gwilliams@carterbaldwin.com

Search Process Timeline

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Search Communications

Dr. William M. Downs was elected as the sixth president of 羞羞视频 by the board of trustees during a special session on Monday morning.听

An accomplished academic leader and political science scholar with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Downs served as the 13th听president of Gardner-Webb University. Prior to his appointment at Gardner-Webb, Dr. Downs served as dean of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, professor of political science, and W. Keats Sparrow distinguished chair in liberal arts at East Carolina University.听

鈥淒r. Downs represents everything we hoped to find in 羞羞视频鈥檚 next president,鈥� said Gene Lewis III, chair of the Board of Trustees and presidential search committee. 鈥淲ith his extensive experience, deep personal faith, and infectious energy, he is uniquely qualified to elevate 羞羞视频 to new heights, while upholding our mission and values.鈥澨�听

羞羞视频鈥檚 presidential search committee 鈥� composed of trustees, faculty, staff, and students 鈥� unanimously recommended Dr. Downs to the Board of Trustees, concluding a six-month search process led in partnership with the executive search firm CarterBaldwin.听

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the honor to serve as the sixth president of 羞羞视频. I鈥檇 like to thank the presidential search committee and the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with this opportunity to help shape the future of this exceptional institution,鈥� said Downs. 鈥淚 admire 羞羞视频鈥檚 firm foundation and dedication to academic excellence, and I share in the university鈥檚 mission to prepare students for purposeful lives and meaningful service. My wife Kim and I look forward to immersing in the campus lifestyle and becoming part of the 羞羞视频 community.鈥�听

A Raleigh native, Downs earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from North Carolina State University. He also holds his master鈥檚 degree and Ph.D. in political science from Emory University in Atlanta.听

During his presidency at Gardner-Webb, Downs advanced academics, athletics, and student life. He spearheaded major capital projects including the construction of a state-of-the-art cafeteria, an amphitheater, and an indoor baseball facility, and the renovation of key academic and athletic spaces. Under his leadership, Gardner-Webb revitalized its sports programs, bringing championship wins in basketball, football, tennis, and soccer. Academically, Downs modernized the general education core curriculum, ultimately increasing accessibility and enrollment, while preserving the university鈥檚 faith-based identity.听

His leadership also guided Gardner-Webb through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery of a devastating hurricane.听

鈥淒r. Downs鈥� bold leadership and dynamic energy will leave a lasting mark on Gardner-Webb. It has been a privilege to work alongside him and witness his transformative impact firsthand,鈥� said Rev. Dr. Lamont Littlejohn, chair of the Gardner-Webb Board of Trustees. 鈥淲hile we will miss his vision and guidance, we are excited for the opportunities that await him at 羞羞视频 and wish him every success as he begins this next chapter.鈥�听

Downs will take office as president of 羞羞视频 on July 1, and will succeed Dr. J. Bradley Creed, who retires at the end of June, after a 10-year term.听听

鈥淎lthough the 羞羞视频 community is sad to see President Creed leave for retirement, we are deeply grateful for his devotion to 羞羞视频 and wish him the best,鈥� said Lewis. 鈥淔or the past 10 years, President Creed guided this university with wise, compassionate leadership, and we are positioned for continued success under our new leader, thanks to his service. We look forward to 羞羞视频鈥檚 bright future, and we鈥檙e proud to welcome Dr. Downs.鈥�

Greetings 羞羞视频 Community,
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Over the past month, the presidential search committee and our executive search firm, CarterBaldwin, have led an extensive national search, recruiting a diverse group of highly-qualified applicants for the role of 羞羞视频鈥檚 next president.
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We鈥檙e now in a pivotal phase of the presidential search process as we carefully review applications and begin to interview candidates.
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We鈥檙e excited to share a recorded message with you, the 羞羞视频 community, to provide more insight on the search for our sixth president and this current phase of the process:听
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We are confident this process will lead us to a president who will build upon 羞羞视频鈥檚 proud legacy and rich traditions while guiding us toward a promising future.
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The search committee is committed to providing regular updates as we work to identify our next leader, and you can stay informed through our presidential search webpage:听/about/leadership/presidential-search/
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Gene Lewis III and the 羞羞视频 Presidential Search Committee
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羞羞视频 Community,
Since you last heard from the presidential search committee, we have been hard at work alongside our search firm, CarterBaldwin. In September, we held listening sessions with various constituents and developed a presidential candidate profile, illustrating the desired attributes of the University鈥檚 future leader. We鈥檙e pleased to share that this phase of the presidential search is complete. Thank you to the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and leadership who helped to shape the profile 鈥撎齣t is available on the听presidential search webpage听and we recommend reading it in full.
We鈥檇 like to highlight a few key qualities from the profile that embody the type of president we鈥檙e looking for:
  • A track record of successful leadership
  • A love for Christ and a demonstrated life of Christian values
  • Exceptional financial acumen
  • The ability to create and execute a vision
  • The power to inspire and mobilize others
These areas will be essential to the success of our future president, who will serve as a guiding force for 羞羞视频 in the years to come.
The presidential search committee and the CarterBaldwin team have the highest confidence that this profile effectively conveys 羞羞视频鈥檚 mission, values, and history to qualified leaders seeking a future home in Buies Creek. The next president will be charged with navigating the ever-changing landscape of higher education, and this profile will assist us in attracting the right candidate who can rise to the occasion with energy and integrity.
Looking ahead, with the publication of the presidential search profile, the recruitment process will begin in earnest. During this time, CarterBaldwin will assist the committee in identifying potential candidates from across the country. Closer to the holiday season, the committee and CarterBaldwin will review these candidates and narrow the field before beginning interviews. Our expectation is that a finalist will be selected by the end of the year, with the board of trustees voting in early 2025, and a final selection in the spring.
The 羞羞视频 family stretches far and wide, and we encourage nominations and applications from our community and beyond. All nominations, expressions of interest, and applications should be submitted to the presidential search committee at听羞羞视频President@carterbaldwin.com听by October 28, 2024.
We will continue providing general updates throughout the process, and you can stay informed through the听presidential search webpage.
Gene Lewis III & the Presidential Search Committee

Dear 羞羞视频 community:

Gene Lewis, chair of the 羞羞视频 board of trustees, announced the formation of a 12-person presidential search听committee听and selection of a听search听firm to identify and recommend candidates to succeed J. Bradley Creed as the institution鈥檚 next president. The decision follows an听announcement听in April that President Creed will retire in the summer of 2025. The听committee听includes representatives from 羞羞视频鈥檚 faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and students.
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Lewis said he is confident in the听committee鈥檚 ability to undertake this task. 鈥淭his diverse听search听committee听represents the solidity of our university and its unique strengths,鈥� said Lewis, who will also serve as chair of the presidential听search听committee. 鈥淭his team will identify a visionary leader who will help ensure 羞羞视频 is poised for continued success while maintaining the values that have cemented this institution as a leader in North Carolina鈥檚 higher education ecosystem.鈥�
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Members of the presidential听search听committee听are as follows:
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Board of Trustees Members
James Eugene 鈥淕ene鈥� Lewis III, Chair 鈥�95
Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor, UBS Financial Services
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Frederick 鈥淔red鈥� L. Taylor II 鈥�92
President, Troy Lumber Company
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Jeff Roberts, DMin
Senior Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh
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Joseph 鈥淛oe鈥� C. Hall, Jr.
Retired Businessman
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Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� L. Whiteman
Trustee Emeritus
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Alumni Representatives
Rebecca Brock 鈥�97 BBA, 鈥�01 MBA
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President, Alumni Board of Directors
Senior Vice President and Fiduciary Director, Truist Wealth
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Wanda Watkins 鈥�79, 鈥�81 MEd
Former Head Women鈥檚 Basketball Coach
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Faculty Members
Michael L. Adams, 鈥�96 PharmD
Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost
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David L. Tolentino, DO
Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
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Edward Fubara, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Professor of Business, Lundy-Fetterman School of Business
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Staff Member
Deborah Gibbs
University Bursar
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Student Representative
Aviel Eubanks
Executive President, Student Government Association
Political Science, Pre-Law Major
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羞羞视频 retained leading executive听search听firm CarterBaldwin to facilitate the听search听for the university鈥檚 next president. CarterBaldwin has experience conducting president and chancellor听searches for numerous other religiously-affiliated institutions, including King University, Pepperdine University, Samford University, Liberty University, and Charleston Southern University.
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CarterBaldwin and the听search听committee听will undertake an active national听search听to identify a diverse field of promising candidates. Following interviews, reference checks, and possible campus visits, the听committee听will narrow the field and recommend candidates for the presidency to the board. A new president is expected to be named by the first quarter of 2025 and begin their duties on July 1.

Greetings Community:

We鈥檙e writing to share that this morning, during a meeting of the University Board of Trustees, President J. Bradley Creed announced he will retire from his position in June 2025, completing 10 years of steadfast leadership at 羞羞视频.听

While we鈥檙e saddened by the news, we are equally celebratory of President Creed鈥檚 immeasurable impact and compassionate leadership during his tenure. He graciously agreed to continue his presidency over the next year to help propel 羞羞视频 into the future and ensure a smooth transition for the next president.听

Please join us in extending sincere appreciation to President Creed for his dedicated service to 羞羞视频. Our university has grown and flourished under his leadership, and he will be missed.听听

The Board of Trustees is moving forward with a national search for President Creed鈥檚 successor. Rest assured, we will keep you and the rest of the 羞羞视频 community informed as the search progresses.听听

Best regards,听

Gene Lewis III and the 羞羞视频 Board of Trustees听

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